We humans have altered our environment in countless ways, yet we don’t always pay attention to the finer details or understand the long-term implications of our actions. This course will explore the role of humans in nature through an evolutionary perspective. We’ll examine our initial evolutionary impact through species extinction, which started tens of thousands of years ago as our ancestors hunted for food. We’ll discuss a variety of topics through artificial selection for desirable traits (have you ever wondered where the tiny toy poodle came from?) and how this differs from the modern GMO controversy.

We will also focus on how, despite all of our influence, nature seems to find a way by adapting through natural selection. One great example of this is the repopulation of Chernobyl and other abandoned areas by wildlife that seem to be thriving in an environment that we deem unsuitable and unsafe.

Course Requirements:

There will be one midterm and one final. Students will also design a presentation or web page on a topic of their choice from the course.

Students are expected to attend every lecture. This is an interactive class and students are expected to have completed the readings and thought about the content before they come to class in order to be ready to discuss the readings and pose questions.

Grades will be based on participation in discussions, the presentation/web page, and the exams.

Intended Audience:

BIOLOGY 121 is intended for students not concentrating in the sciences with minimal background in the biological sciences; however, some exposure to biology at the high school level is assumed. This course can be elected by undergraduate students in any year of their degree program.

Syllabi are available to current LSA students. IMPORTANT: These syllabi are provided to give students a general idea about the courses, as offered by LSA departments and programs in prior academic terms. The syllabi do not necessarily reflect the assignments, sequence of course materials, and/or course expectations that the faculty and departments/programs have for these same courses in the current and/or future terms.